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Anchorage residents may think fire season is a long way off after March snowfalls, but the low snow winter means the recent reprieve could be short lived.

Right when people start burning, leaves and debris burning that's going on can make a big difference, because if we don't have to worry about human caused fires, that's usually our early season challenge.

What is the fire season outlook for South Central and the rest of the state, and how can you best keep your property safe from wildfire?

We'll learn more right now on Alaska Insight.

Alaska's fire season is arriving early this year.

Some wildland fire is inevitable.

Lightning strikes are a .. cause of summer fires, but early in the spring, fires are mostly caused by us.

Human caused fire through leaf and other yard debris, burning sparks from chainsaws or gas powered weed whips.

Neglected campfires.

Most can be prevented.

And tonight we'll hear from experts about the outlook for fire this year and what we all can do to better prepare to keep ourselves, our property, and our neighbors safe from wildfire.

Before we get to that discussion, here are some.. from Alaska Public Media's coll.. statewide news network.

The passenger plane that crashed near Nome last month, killing all ten people on board, was nearly 1,000 pounds overweight, according to a preliminary.. from the National Transportation Safety Board released Wednesday.

Clint Johnson, the NTSB Alaska chief, said investigators haven't yet determined why the plane was overweight or what role the weight might have pla..

According to the report, the conditions around Nome were icy enough that shortly before the plane crashed.

The airport had briefly closed their runway to De-ice.

It.

Investigators wrote in the report that the plane was more than 900 pounds over the maximum takeoff weight for those icy conditions.

A final investigation report is expected in 12 to 18 months.

Anchorage residents will not.. on a new sales tax this year.

That's after the Assembly voted 8 to 4 on Tuesday night to kill a motion that would have p.. on ballots for a special election in September.

The measure would have put a 3% sales tax on most goods, with two thirds going to property tax relief and the remaining third going toward capital projects around the city.

There would have been an exemption.. poorest residents, though a mechanism for tracking that wasn't fully developed.

Members cited the complexity of the proposal and the disproportionate effects sales taxes have on low income residents as reasons for voting down the bill.

Assembly Member Felix Rivera, one of the sponsors of the proposal, said during the meeting on Tuesday that he and other members would contin.. on a future plan that would include more community input.

The state legislature narrowly rejected governor Mike Dunn Levy's executive order to create a cabinet level state agriculture department.

The governor's proposal would have.. the existing Division of Agriculture from the Department of Natural Resources.

Dunleavy pitched it as a way to give farmers, ranchers and other food pro.. at the cabinet table even after he leaves office.

Lawmakers in the largely Democratic coalitions that control the House and Senate said they supported the idea of a state agriculture department, but disagreed with the governor's approach of creating one through an executive order.

Dunleavy revised the initial cost estimate for the order after lawmakers expressed skepticism that the state could afford it.

The most recent version of the plan was described as cost neutral, but legislators weren't convinced that the department could be cost neutral in the long term.

You can find the full version of these and many more stories on our website.

Alaska public.org or download the Alaska Public Media app on your phone.

Now onto our discussion for this evening the annual fire season.

While it may not seem like it in Anchorage right now, Southcentral Alaska saw an exceptionally low amount of snow this winter and several inches of March snow can't make up for several months of warm, dry weather.

As Alaska Public Media's Madeleine Rose reports, the low snow conditions in South Central have scientists and firefighters concerned about an early start to this year's wildfire season.

In early March, the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection issued an order for an early fire season in many parts of the state.

That order went into effect March 17th.

They've declared that fire season is here, and it might seem a little early to actually be getting fires on the g.. but part of what this does is it lets them get training started so that firefighters are ready to go as soon as possible.

Heidi Strader is the weather program manager for the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center, which works to coordinate local, state, and federal firefighting resources.

Strader says the concern right now is that dry conditions could lead to an early start to human caused fires that could tie up resources.

Any debris burning that's going on can make a big difference, because if we don't have to worry about human caused fires, that's usually our early season challenge.

We don't get the lightning until maybe late May or into June.

Even in Anchorage, where new snow offers a temporary reprieve, the risk is still there.

Strader says late snow can't make up for an exceptionally dry season when you have no snow all winter and you get just a little bit of snow at the end.

It doesn't pack the grasses down very well, and one of the early season concerns is that if the grass is still relatively standing upright and well aerated, then fire can move through it very quickly.

While the lack of snow is a conc.. Strader says conditions can always change quickly.

So Alaskans should be preparing for wildfires regardless of how the winter went in Anchorage.

I'm Madeline Rose.

Joining me tonight to help us better understand the risk for fire this spring and summer is John.. John is the Anchorage Fire Department's wildfire division chief, and N.. MacDonald is with us.

Norm is the deputy director of fire protection for the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Welcome, both of you.

Thank you.

Thanks for be.. John, I want to start with you.

We've had some snow, as we just noted in the in the package story, but I was out last night observing how quickly southern slopes are becoming bare again.

Talk about your level of concern for South Central over the next few weeks, especially.

Well, like Heidi said in her video, the spring season, when we have our grass that's lofted and we're relatively snow free, poses a pretty significant concern for the .. fires, within the Anchorage municipality.

We have, a fair amount of of that fuel load, within the Anchorage area.

The sun's getting to it now on these warm days, and it exposes a lot of it.

And combine that with, the blowdown that we've had from the winters windstorm.

It's giving us a fair amount of potential for this, this spring season.

Norm, you mentioned that in addition to southcentral, there are dry conditions in southwe..

Describe that region's concerns and what you're seeing there.

Yeah, we have definitely a higher potential for southcentral.

But if you look int.. there's areas that have been snow free all winter long.

So areas of Dillingham and Lake Clark and that, that area.

There's potential for stars out there as well.

So our protection includes southcentral, but all of western Alaska as well.

So we've got our eyes on that part of the state.

How do the conditions compare, between the Anchorage Bowl southcentral in that area?

What's the where's the bigger .. for the for the state's perspective?

We I mean, we have concerns and all of it we have respon..

But obviously where we have the higher population and, the public safety risk, that's where we have our focus this spring.

And one of the things we've done is started our fire season earlier to give us a little bit more opportunity to work to reduce the human caused fires where possible.

Yeah, we'll talk about that in just a bit.

But, staying with you, Norm, across the state, what other areas are you Look, like over the next couple o..

In February, we got our first predictive services, report and saying.

And we have a, definitely potential for April and May, higher fire activity and that really is focused on, on south central, southern southwest and also southeastern Alaska.

So those are the areas we're focusing on for early season, but we're prep.. interior season, which can change as well.

And that's that.

Fairbanks Toak..

So the early season is definitely in the south central southern part of the state, but we are preparing for a potentially busy season up north as well.

So the official start of the season was is normally April 1st.

You move that up to March 17th.

What what does that mean?

What does that trigger?

Well, for Anchorage, obviously our preparedness and readiness, needs to be, moved forward.

Right.

So, we'v.. all of our wildfire, refresher training for the department, line operation personnel.

Sooner than we typically do.

We've been, elevating basically our coordination and our interface with our interagency partners.

City of Alaska, Division of forestry, who has suppression jurisd.. over the municipality of Anchorage as well.

And just really leveling up all of our pre-planning in our m.. to the .. and what they can do right now.

Anything you want.. Yeah.

A we prepare every year for early season.

We we kind of look at it, prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

But the March 17th start the fire season really gives us the authority to manage the burn permit program and and close that.

So if we have a predicted hot, dry and wi.. time with these dry fuels, we have the authority now through statute to close open burning.

So that's really what it does for th..

It's just another prevention tool to reduce, the human caused fire.

Snow is basically gone in Anchorage in late February and early March.

We got a little bit of a reprieve.

Great for some moisture.

Get us a little closer to green up, but help us understand why that's really not saving our bacon from the larger concern of of fire.

What?

What changes when there is such a low amount of snow that makes the fire season so much more dire?

Well, I guess, specific to Anchorage in the in the municipality and really in south central Alaska.

Like, like Heidi was saying, when we have a significant or an aver.. at least snowfall year, it's beneficial to us because it'll matte down the long grass .. And, and when that gets lofted or if it, you know, never gets compressed in the winter time, that poses a threat for our, light, lasting fuels.

But additionally in the, in the timber.. where we typically have, a decent snowpack and then that shaded out and that doesn't really become as receptive until later on after we've had, you know, our grass season and that gets expo.. We don't have that that snow load in the timber.

So all of that has the potential to become active earlier.

Therefore, you know, our gr.. which typically would die down significantly when they get into that shaded out timbered moisture area.

They have the potential to progress through that.

And then I know there's, something called the duff layer that's also a concern if it doesn't get enough moisture.

What?

Describe that in the spring that that really it's those surface fuels, those dry flashy the grass and the leaves.

Okay.

So that'..

The concern we have with an early season is when you stack and, snow free winter and early spring, that moves up your drying the duff layer.

So when you start stacking in early spring with a dry early summer and you carry that into a dry late summer, those are the seasons, lik.. where we had Swan Lake and some of the larg.. in Mat-su and Fairbanks.

So, this is, potentially a precursor for a long season.

We know we'll have an early spring, but it also just increases that poten.. a more significant late season as well.

John.

And with that, .. challenging of extinguishment.

When our, when our duff, layer is dried out, our fires will burn deeper into the ground.

So, when we have those earlier spring seasons, normally, you know, the, the fire will only burn just below the surface layer, and then it reaches that moist, soil, and it's fairly easy to extinguish, when we're dry or we're in near drought conditions and stuff like that, it will it will burn significantly deeper.

It will take more water, more effort, more persons to, actually gain extinguishment on those wildland fire.

It's really, truly correct.

Fires in April and May, as we know, are usually human caused.

And, of course, as we've been discussing this year could be much more dire.

Talk about the common ways that people unintentionally.. Nobody's most people aren't trying to do the bad, something like that.

But what happens?

What, what should they avoid doing?

Well, I think, you know, we should always be cautious when we have, warm, dry days, right?

And we're working out, in the woods or even in our lawns or anything, near, the forested areas.

But, you know, I mean, potential for, starts, at least within the municipality.

Unattended campfires, people that are, trying to recreate that, maybe are not as prepared as they should be with water or tools on site.

People, you know, can can nick a rock with their lawnmower and if it's really, really dry and receptive, that could that could start a fire as well.

So, there's, there's lots of potential, oppo.. for starts, at least in South Central.

We don't have, burn barrels and things like that that we allow within the mu..

But any time we're out in the woods and, and, you know, there's, there's some potential for, that type of situation if we're having campfires or if we're not, exercising extreme caution with what we're doing.

Can people get burning permits righ.. We do not have a, an active burn permit program within the Anchorage municipality, separate from, some very special needs.

But the, that there isn't one that's active right now.

Well, that's important for folks to know.

As you know, when it's nice out in the springtime, people love to get out there and rake, and they want to burn their leaves.

Do you encourage them to compost or take them to the woodlot to dispose of this?

Yes.

We do.

And and, I think it was just announced today that the, Highland, road, refuge.

So the Solway services has opened up that location for receiving, woody debris.

On March 31st and then the central transfer station off Dowling will be open May 1st.

Our division has partnered with Solid Waste Services to help fund that.

It will be free to the public this.. And folks can bring their, woody material to that location and dispose of it.

So that's a that's a really good opportunity for them to, help reduce the fuel loading.

Around their area.

And we have all of that information, linked on our website at Wildfire Unicorn.

We'll link to those things as well.

You were talking about how a lawnmower can hit a rock and spark a fire.

I nearly started a fire, a couple of years ago on the back side of my property, clearing some dead grass, thinking, well, this dead grass ou.. so I don't start a fire.

But it was so hot and so dry.

The sun was so intense that just the weed whip itself.

I started to smell smoldering and stopped.

But it was a really good reminder that I. I hate to admit that I didn't have a hose out there, because I didn't realize that it was that, that dry that I could have started a fire just with a weed whip.

So when things are really dry, having water close by is so important, as we know.

Norm, you mentioned there are .. and suppression.

In an earlier interview, local, state and federal.

The Trump administration has repeatedly disparaged FEMA's work, wants to dismantle it.

How would that affect the work of especially recovery if there was a large wildfire that destroyed homes and other infrastructure?

The Miller's Reach fire in the 90s comes to mind.

The sockeye fire in 2015.

And as you were noting earlier, there might be a need for a lot more suppression efforts.

Yeah, absolutely.

In a year like this, that's.. large fires that we get.

And I think, just like everybody, we're kind of evaluating and watching that as well to see what their reorganization will look like.

So I don't think we have all the answers yet.

And I don't think they do either.

But I can just speak from the state perspective.

We'll be ready to respond to fires.

We have our local homeland security, that state the equivalent of state VMA.

We coordinate with them.

We've got meetings with them next week and the National Guard.

So on the state side, it's, it's business as usual.

And we're just watching closely on the federal side what some of those impacts might be.

And I believe you said y.. in Fairbanks.

Is that right?

With other wildland fire agencies, the Department of Interior, U.S. Forest Service Agency, what were the discussions regarding staffing levels for fire surveillance and firefighting?

Yeah, of those meetings, is what we have available and time frames and they'll be available.

And I will say for Alaska, I think we are set up pretty well.

The both the federal and the state are on track to have everything available, on schedule.

Our, our crews will be our fire crews will be available, at the end of April.

So we so we will have the resources we need in Alaska.

I think some of the concerns are nationally, if we have to import, people to Alaska during a busy season, but we've got the Northwest Compact that includes .. and the five western states that we can call resources on, on state state agreements.

So we're, in the event that there's not as many federal resources available, we're looking at other options to make sure we .. the right people, right place, right time if we need them.

For both of you, what do you want property owners to do right now, while there is still a little snow on the ground to better prepare for spring and summer and mitigate fuel hazards on their property, I think for, the best thing that the public can do right now is, prepare their property.

When we're responding to a wildfire incident, of significant magnitude or potential, we as responders cannot do in 10 or 20 minutes what a homeowner should have done over the course of a season in preparation for a..

So move a cord of wood or something away from them.

Correct.

And we're, you know, we'r.. and the fire dictates where we have to focus our attention on.

So, anything that the homeowners can do to prepare their property for us, ensure that that combustible material is moved away from the house.

Again on wildfire, unit.org.

We have a ton of, resources and information, that, homeowners can go to and prepare, and request a Firewise assessment if they would like, as well.

And someone from the department will come out and and assess their property.

But the other part of t.. is really understanding.

Ready, set, go.

And what that means.

And if we are in a dynamic, wild.. where we have, you know, pote.. that are going to be threatened, homeowners need to have a plan.

And it's it's going to be in summertime.

Kids are going to be home from school, all of that type of stuff.

And we need to make for sure that our residents are prepared to leave with the, items that, they need to be able to survive, you know, thei.. stuff like that, but have the, have their preparedness plans that pay attention to the weather.

Sign up for the rave app so they can get, notifications, in the event of emergency and just be ready with their plan and the Firewise program for Anchorage residents.

Well, people will come out to their house and help them assess.

Is that correct?

That is correct.

We, And we're actually revamping that a bit, to enable the homeowner to complete some of that assessment on their own.

That should be, live within the next month or so.

And then, if a homeowner chooses to, to do kind of the more digital route, then we would send up a fire crew afterwards to inspect and ensure that it's actually, taken care of.

And then that would be.. into our database .. been Firewise.

But but there are absolutely resources they can, email at, wildfire or at Muni board and request a Firewise assessment.

And, we'll send some folks out there to, to provide that service.

I had that done at my house a few years back, and it was very helpful.

Yeah.

Was fantastic.

One of my favorite features of our city is the glorious wooded areas and the trail system.

But I know that that's also a risk.

And I often, when I'm out on the trails, wonder about the standing dead spruce and, a lot of that dead brushy material.

I understand that there's some coordinated efforts happening between the state and the municipal fire department to help mitigate those hazards in the city.

What's happening on that front?

We've we've had a pa.. in Anchorage Fire Department, and that goes back into the 90s.

So it's it's, not a new program, but, I thought there was some new elements.

Well, the with the John's program, the wildfire program, I think we've got a renewed, energy to, to, where we can work together.

So we've got, some joint funding, state crews and contracts that will work together with Anchorage to make sure .. work with John and his staff on, on creating some fuel breaks around around town and some of the higher risk areas.

We actually had a meeting about that yesterday.

And, we're defining the exact locations that we're going to be implementing those, hazard fuel reduction projects.

And, we're off to a really good start.

And the State of Alaska Division of Forestry has been a huge help in and, supporting that.

Those really do two things of, one, it creates a fuel break, but to having those firefighting resources working in Anchorage, if there's a new st.. they're available to respond from the project ..

When you consider the future and the rapid pace of climate change in Alaska, John, you've had a lot of experience.

You were you I think you both were at the LA fires.

John, you were at the Lahaina Fires in Hawaii in 2.. Fire intensity seems to be different.

What what are your thoughts about what we'll be looking at, for the future of firefighting here as climate change is hitting our state so quickly.

Just for clarity, I was not at the Lahaina oh so sorry, LA fire.

I just want to make for sure that we're clear on that.

We we together responded to a multitude of fires in California.

So Southern California, but not that one.

But, as it rela.. what's happening around us and how our fire environment is changing, you know, I believe we're predicted to have, 162% increase over the next, 25 years in our burnable acreage, from wildland fires, a statistic that was recently put out.

But, our problem is not getting any better.

It's it's getting more challenging.

You know, obviously, Anchorage, we're we're nearing the end of March, and we've, we're in a, relative fire risk in a lot of areas within South south central.

And our season often is now extending until October and later just in Alaska.

And when I started fighting fire, you know, we didn't we didn't have seasons like that.

So, I mean, the the threat is real, the potential is real.

And, you know, as we continue to have people developing in the urban, and or in the, interface environment and in the woods, and we're going to continue to h.. And, we're doing everything we can coordinating between agencies to be prepared.

All right.

Thank you both so mu.. And thank you for the work that you do on behalf of all of us.

It's so, so critical.

And Smokey the Bear was right.

Only you can prevent forest fires, especially in the spring.

So be careful when you're out doing yard work or clearing brush.

Compost what you can and haul other debris to local wood lots.

If you have access to one, make sure your backyard, fire pit, or campfires are wa.. and completely out at the end of the evening.

Some fire is inevitable, but we can all make a difference in how much of it is caused by people rather than nature.

That's it for this edition of Alaska Insight, visit our website.

Alaska Public dot org for breaking news and reports from our partner stations across the state.

While you're there, sign up for our free .. so you won't miss any of Alaska's top stories of the..

Thanks for joining us this evening.

I'm Lori Townsend.

Good night.